Estimation of Serum Uric Acid as an Indicator of Severity of Preeclampsia and Perinatal Outcome.

BACKGROUND Uric acid is a marker of oxidative stress tissue injury and renal dysfunction, hence a correlation hypothesized. OBJECTIVES (1) To evaluate severity of preeclampsia with raised serum uric acid. (2) To evaluate perinatal outcome in preeclampsia with raised serum uric ccid. MATERIALS AND METHODS 50 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia and 50 normotensive women were included in the study and maternal serum uric acid was estimated in both the groups. RESULTS In the study group comprising of 50 cases of preeclampsia, there is a positive correlation (r = 0.695 & +0.359) between the variables in study group, and as the SBP or DBP increases, the MSUA concentration also increases. In control group, there is a negative correlation (r = -0.083 & -0.095). Perinatal complication was more in study group, 54 % were preterm compared to 4 % in control group also as MSUA value increased average gestational age decreased. Mean birth weight in study group was 1.8 kg study group of which 13 (26 %) babies were VLBW, 28 (56 %) were LBW, and 9 (18 %) babies had normal birth weight, in control group mean birth weight was 2.99 kg. There were 6 cases of ELBW babies in study group which were included in VLBW group for statistical calculation. The difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the study group, the MSUA concentration is found higher in LBW and VLBW babies compared to normal birth weight babies. CONCLUSION There is a positive correlation between SUA & severity of preeclampsia, and a significant adverse fetal outcome is observed with raised MSUA in preeclamptic patients.